A look at polar bear LOVE for Valentine's Day

 For Valentine's Day,
 some glimpses of romantic love between polar bears.

Flocke and Raspi
 Marineland, Antibes France - 2018

Little One and Anana
Cincinnati Zoo - 2018

Little One and Anana
 Cincinnati Zoo - 2018

"The Coy Lady"
Little One and Berit
Cincinnati Zoo - 2013

Little One runs away wit Berit's icy heart
 Cincinnati Zoo - 2015 

Yoghi and Giovanna
Hellabrunn Tierpark, Munich - 2011

Yoghi and Giovanna
Tierpark Hellabrunn, Munich - 2011

Nord and Malik
Aalborg Denmark - 2019

Little One and Anana
 Cincinnati Zoo - 2019

Corinna and Anton - The Wilhelma - Stuttgart Germany - 2011
Every afternoon, Anton would climb onto a jutting rock, and Corinna would come up next to him, and lick his ears. A sign of great love.

"Yin and Yang"
Raspi and Flocke
Marineland - Antibes France - 2018

"Love bite"
Flocke and Raspi
Marineland, Antibes France - 2018

"Two Ladies"
Nanuq and twin sisters Aurora and Anana
Columbus Zoo - 2013

Not polar bears, but these two hippos knew now to show love.
 Fiona's parents Henry and Bibi - Cincinnati Zoo - 2017

Valentines Day at the Cincinnati Zoo

Is Anana dreaming of getting to know Little One a little better?

It has been well over a year since Anana came to live with Little One at the Cincinnati Zoo, and it has been a rocky road to love. But now, after a year of hissing and growling and grufting at each other, There are signs of amiability, even friendship.

The keepers (and everyone else) are hoping for a love match between the two, which might result in cubs. Little One and Anana are related to very few of the other zoo bears, and as such, their genes are especially valuable.

In addition, 17 year old Anana has proven fertility, She has a five year old daughter named Luna living in Buffalo. Little One has never fathered a cub. At age 28, he needs to get busy with that.  

The zoo has volunteers who sit by the polar bears, writing down all the bears' activities on clip boards. They are researching the road to romance for this pair, and so far, this year looks hopeful. Breeding season is just beginning. Last spring, these two bears were very unfriendly. This year, things have improved.

I have been told that in Buffalo, Anana was slow to warm to Nanuq, an older bear who eventually fathered Luna. Maybe Anana just takes awhile to get to know a new suitor.

Here is what I found when I visited Anana and Little One today, Valentine's Day, a good day for romance.

Anana gives Little One a friendly kiss

Anana runs away, while Little One looks on admiringly

The two bears take turns pursuing each other.

 

Little One submits, while Anana nuzzles him

Little One smiles at Anana's friendliness

They take turns with the rolly toy Here, Anana plays.

Taking turns sniffing

Looking at the papparazzi.

A little love bite

Little One looks longingly at Anana

Little One sniffs Anana here

And sniffs Anana there

Happy Bears at last

Valentine's Day at the Cincinnati Zoo

The Cincinnati Zoo celebrated Valentine's Day a little early.
 Polar bears Little One and Berit were given red heart-shaped
 ice treats to celebrate romance.

  

It started out as a lazy morning.
 Berit was doing her stretches.

Stretch....

Little One comes over and tells Berit
that something is going on in the pool area.

Let's check it out!

One of the keepers has a surprise for the bears

What can it be?

It is a flying red heart.

Berit and Little One go for the prize,
 but wait, the keeper has another!

Little One gets the first heart.
 Berit waits expectantly for him to give it to her.

But no, Little One runs off with the Valentine.

He is keeping it for himself

Chomp!

That's okay, says Berit. I can get my own Valentine.
 I am an independent young lady

Berit has her valentine too

Little One chomps into the goodies in his ice treat

     

Berit has retrieved a second valentine.
 Now she has two.

Side by side, they enjoy their Valentines

Berit is proud that she got two Valentines.
A Double Treat.
 And she doesn't plan to share.

All for me, says Berit

It is an amazing day for the visitors
who came out in the cold to see this event.

And later on there was the Penguin Parade.
 Happy Valentine's Day to all.